Ravens’ Robinson darts to swift finishes in 4A state sprint finals

While football may be Jaden Robinson’s sport, he is leaving his mark on the track.

The Auburn Riverside High School junior took sixth in the 100-meter finals at the 4A state track and field meet at Mount Tahoma High School last Saturday.

Robinson set a school record in the event with a personal-best 10.74 seconds. He also took seventh in the 200 finals (21.81) after setting the school record with a personal-best time of 21.7 seconds in the prelims last Friday.

Robinson was pleased with his performance at the state meet.

“I didn’t think I was going to be able to do this,” he said.

Robinson started running last year at the encouragement of assistant football coach Marcus Yzaguirre, who also coaches track. Last season, Robinson made it to state in the 200 but did not qualify for the finals.

“My football coach told me I have to do track to get faster for football,” Robinson said. “I wound up taking it a little more seriously this year. I wanted to come back to state and place. Last year not being able to make the finals kind of made me think about track and how I wanted to represent myself and the school, so I had to get better for that.”

A wide receiver and cornerback, Robinson is being looked at by colleges for talent on the football field.

“I am doing really good at football right now, so football is my primary sport,” he said. “But now with how I’ve done in track, it is kind of both. So I don’t know what one I’m leaning toward when I graduate next year.”

Robinson said he hopes to return to the state track and field meet next season and finish in the top three.

Elsewhere

Auburn Mountainview’s Talan Alfrey placed sixth in the long jump at 22 feet.

The junior said he was happy with the results after missing a state berth in the event last season.

“It is pretty amazing I am here. I am just excited and blessed to be here,” Alfrey said. “Last year, I fouled all three jumps at districts, so I didn’t make it to state.”

Alfrey also qualified for state in the triple jump this season. He did not make it to the finals in the event, in which he took fifth place last year in the 3A state championship.

Other state placers for the Lions were Benjamin Mose, who took took fourth in the high jump (6 feet, 3 inches), and Lily Lavine, who finished eighth in 400 (59.99).

Auburn Mountainview’s consistent Benjamin Mose climbs 6 feet, 3 inches to take fourth in the state 4A high jump final on Friday on Friday. RACHEL CIAMPI, Auburn Reporter